Abstract: The database information retrieval system includes a parser for parsing a natural language input query into constituent phrases with a analysis of the syntax of the phrase. The parser may make use of tables and or dictionaries to aid in terminology identification and grammatical syntax analysis. The system also includes virtual tables for converting phrases from the natural language query into retrieval keys that are possessed by the database. The virtual tables account for particles or terms that modify the phrases in the natural language query. A collating unit is provided in the system for preparing a query or retrieval formula executable in the database from the retrieval keys provided by a virtual table the collating unit selects. Lastly, the system contains a retrieval execution unit for retrieving data from the database on the basis of the database retrieval formula produced by the collating unit.